Bûche de Noël with Buttercream Frosting

Bûche de Noël with Buttercream Frosting

  • 40 Minutes Prep1 Hour 25 Minutes Total
  • 10 Servings
  • 420 Calories per Serving
Make this Yule log cake (a French classic) a family tradition during the holidays.

Ingredient List

Cake

  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3/4 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Filling

  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons instant coffee granules or crystals

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

  • 1/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons hot water

Garnish

  • 1/2 cup chopped green pistachio nuts

Preparation

  1. Heat oven to 375°F. Line 15x10x1-inch pan with foil or waxed paper; grease with shortening or cooking spray. In small bowl, beat eggs with electric mixer on high speed about 5 minutes or until very thick and lemon colored. Pour eggs into large bowl; gradually beat in 1 cup granulated sugar. Beat in 1/3 cup water and the vanilla on low speed. Gradually add flour, baking powder and salt, beating just until batter is smooth. Pour into pan, spreading batter to corners.
  2. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately loosen cake from edges of pan; invert onto towel generously sprinkled with powdered sugar. Carefully remove foil. Trim off stiff edges of cake if necessary. While hot, carefully roll cake and towel from narrow end. Cool on cooling rack at least 30 minutes.
  3. In chilled medium bowl, beat all filling ingredients on high speed until stiff. Unroll cake; remove towel. Spread filling over cake. Roll up cake.
  4. In medium bowl, beat cocoa and butter on low speed until thoroughly mixed. Beat in powdered sugar until mixed. Beat in vanilla and enough of the hot water until frosting is smooth and spreadable.
  5. For tree stump, cut off a 2-inch diagonal slice from one end of cake. Attach stump to one long side using 1 tablespoon frosting. Frost cake with remaining frosting. With tines of fork, make strokes in frosting to look like tree bark. Garnish with nuts.

Tips

  • The chopped pistachio nuts give your cake “log” a natural moss-covered appearance. Other edible natural-looking adornments include chocolate leaves, meringue mushrooms, mint gumdrop leaves and red cinnamon candies.
  • Rise to the occasion! If using self-rising flour, there is no need to add baking powder and salt.

Nutrition Information

Daily Values (Amount per serving)

Total Fat 18g 28%, Saturated Fat 10g 48%, Cholesterol 105mg 35%, Sodium 180mg 7%, Potassium 170mg 5%, Total Carbohydrate 58g 19%, Dietary Fiber 2g 7%, Vitamin A 10%, Vitamin C 0%, Calcium 6%, Iron 8%, Vitamin D 6%, Vitamin E 4%, Thiamin 10%, Riboflavin 10%, Niacin 4%, Vitamin B6 8%, Folic Acid 6%, Vitamin B12 4%, Pantothenic Acid 4%, Phosphorus 10%, Magnesium 6%, Zinc 4%, Selenium 15%, Copper 10%, Manganese 15%

Other Nutrients (Amount per serving)

Calories 420, Calories from Fat 170, Trans Fat 1/2g, Monounsaturated Fat 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1 1/2g, Soluble Fiber 0g, Insoluble Fiber 1g, Sugars 47g, Protein 5g, Beta-Carotene 4%, Omega-3 0g, Carbohydrate Choice 4, Starch 1, Fruit 0, Other Carbohydrate 3, Skim Milk 0, Low-Fat Milk 0, Milk 0, Vegetable 0, Very Lean Meat 0, Lean Meat 0, Medium-Fat Meat 0, High-Fat Meat 0, Fat 3 1/2, Fruits NC*, Vegetables NC*, Grains NC*, Meat & Beans NC*, Dairy NC*, Fats & Oils NC*

* NC indicates a nutritional value has not been calculated, which is typically due to either insufficient nutritional data for an ingredient or an incomplete analysis.